Isaac Brown named to Paul Hornung Award Watchlist
On Thursday afternoon, Louisville football running back Isaac Brown was named to the preseason Paul Hornung Award Watchlist.
The award is in its 16th season and is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.
The award is kick-started by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of Louisville native Paul Hornung. Brown is the only Cardinal to make the watchlist, and is one of eight players from the Atlantic Coast Conference to make the cut, including three other running backs: Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne, North Carolina State’s Hollywood Smothers, and Duke’s Peyton Jones.
From the ACC: “Now in its 16th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in March 2026 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky.“
There are 46 players from 46 different programs on this season’s list, and in its short time, seven of the award’s 15 winners have been first-round picks in the NFL Draft.
Now entering his sophomore season, Brown is slated to be one of the most exciting running backs in the nation. He broke Lamar Jackson’s freshman rushing record, putting up 1,173 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He earned ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and was listed by several publications as a freshman All-American.
The 5-foot-9, Homestead, Florida, native has already been tabbed with preseason honors.
The preseason watchlist is selected from a panel of college football experts using SID input, statistics, projections, and previous performance. Every week of the college football season, the award will highlight players’ versatile performance with a weekly honor roll.
In yesterday’s preseason ACC media poll, Louisville was picked to finish fifth in the league, with Clemson being the favorite.
